Macromolecular Research最新文献

Biofouling significantly limits the long-term performance of porous membranes in biomedical and filtration systems. In this study, active polymer coatings were fabricated on alumina membranes using ternary blends of an amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(ethylene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PE-b-PEO), and a water-soluble homopolymer, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). During film formation, the hydrophilic PEO blocks interacted with PAA, while the hydrophobic PE blocks formed the continuous matrix of the coating. After removing PAA from the blend, nanopores were generated and PEO chains were exposed on the membrane surface, resulting in a hydrophilic and nanoporous structure. The modified membranes exhibited enhanced water permeability and strong resistance to cell adhesion compared to unmodified alumina membranes. The amphiphilic composition also provided good mechanical stability and maintained wettability during continuous operation. These results indicate that the polymer-coated membranes can effectively decrease fouling while preserving structural integrity. The proposed coating strategy provides a practical route for developing durable and hydrophilic polymer membranes applicable to microfiltration and biomedical systems requiring long-term antifouling performance.

Graphical abstract

We address membrane biofouling by coating alumina with ternary blends of PE-b-PEO and PAA. During deposition, PEO complexes with PAA while PE forms a continuous matrix; selective PAA removal forms nanopores and exposes PEO, creating a hydrophilic porous surface. The modified membranes exhibit higher water permeability, reduced protein adsorption, stable wettability, and mechanical robustness, enabling durable antifouling in microfiltration and biomedical use.

Accurate evaluation of thermal conductivity in polymeric materials is crucial for the development of advanced thermal management systems in electronics. In this study, a total of five epoxy resins imine-based epoxy (IEP), azine-based epoxy (AEP), ketone-based epoxy (KEP), double imine-based epoxy (DIEP), and acetylene-based epoxy (ACEP) were synthesized. The thermal conductivity of the cured materials under various conditions was then evaluated using the transient plane source (TPS) method. Their liquid crystalline (LC) behavior was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM), revealing nematic and smectic phases for azine-based epoxies (AEP) and imine-based epoxies (IEP), respectively. Determination of the optimal curing agent and curing temperature was achieved by analyzing the exothermic peaks obtained from dynamic DSC scans of various epoxy resin–curing agent combinations. The curing agent whose exothermic behavior overlapped with the LC temperature range of the epoxy resin was selected to prepare the cured materials. To ensure reliability, the thermal conductivity value was determined using the stabilized region of the residual graph from the TPS measurement, where the deviation of the temperature difference was at a minimum. When cured in the LC state, the thermal conductivity values were 0.36 W/m·K for IEP/diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) and 0.35 W/m·K for AEP/DDM.

Graphical Abstract

Accurate thermal conductivity of LC epoxy resins was achieved by excluding unstable data regions, highlighting the importance of accurate measurement for understanding molecular ordering effects.

Hydrogels with photothermal properties were developed using polyaniline nanoparticles for potential applications in photothermal therapy and cosmetics. Polyaniline, a cost-effective, photothermal conjugated polymer, was modified with octyl side chains to enable to produce an aqueous nanoparticle dispersion by assembling with an amphiphile via a film dispersion process. In comparison to pristine polyaniline dissolved in water, polyaniline nanoparticles presented improved photostability and bathochromic shift in their absorption spectra due to conjugated backbones protected in nanoparticles, which shield the conjugated backbones from the polar aqueous environment. Alginate hydrogels were successfully fabricated by mixing the water dispersed conjugated polymer nanoparticles with a sodium alginate solution, followed by calcium ion crosslinking. Compared with sodium alginate hydrogels without nanoparticles, the obtained hydrogels showed significantly improved mechanical and photothermal properties due to the contributions of polyaniline nanoparticles as both a nanofiller and a photothermal agent. The enhanced stability and sustained photothermal performance are critical features for applications requiring prolonged activity under oxidative stress, such as photothermal-mediated therapies.

Graphic abstract

Alginate hydrogels composited with polyaniline nanoparticles presented photothermal properties with enhanced mechanical properties.

This study explores the asymmetric bouncing dynamics of a binary drop with viscosity contrast on the inner surfaces of cylinders decorated with a circumferential ridge. The drop consists of a low-viscosity water phase and a high-viscosity glycerin–water mixture, forming an internal interface oriented perpendicular to the ridge. Using Volume of Fluid simulations, this study analyzes the effects of surface curvature, viscosity ratio, and Weber number on retraction behavior and separation of the low-viscosity component. Two distinct retraction modes are identified: bi-directional retraction, in which the film retracts symmetrically in both axial and azimuthal directions, and uni-directional retraction, dominated by axial collapse. A regime map reveals that separation occurs above a critical threshold, accompanied by a transition from bi-directional to uni-directional retraction. The dimensionless residence time of the low-viscosity phase follows distinct scaling laws for each retraction mode. Theoretical predictions based on retraction dynamics are consistent with simulation results and provide a clear interpretation of the underlying mechanisms. These findings demonstrate that both geometric confinement and viscosity contrast play critical roles in dictating asymmetric momentum redistribution and drop separation, offering a framework for the design of hybrid-fluid systems for selective liquid handling.

Graphical abstract

This study highlights the importance of curvature in determining the retraction pathway: while higher curvature promotes symmetriccollapse and reattachment, lower curvature favors uni-directional retraction and efficient drop breakup.

Facial masks have emerged as a dominant category within the skincare market; however, conventional materials such as non-woven fabrics (composed of cotton or regenerated cellulose fibers), hydrogels, and bio-cellulose often present limitations in terms of skin adhesion, production complexity, cost, or potential skin irritation. To overcome these challenges, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has attracted attention due to its water solubility, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and excellent mechanical strength, making it a promising candidate for next-generation facial mask materials. In this study, we developed an electrospun nanoweb-based facial mask composed of a PVA/functional ingredient (FI) composite, leveraging the advantages of electrospinning to produce nanofiber structures characterized by high porosity, large surface area, and intrinsic softness. These features contribute to enhanced skin adhesion and efficient FI loading. We systematically investigated the effects of electrospinning parameters and FI content on fiber morphology and physicochemical properties. Furthermore, the skincare efficacy of the developed facial mask was quantitatively evaluated by measuring changes in moisture content, pore size, wrinkle, pigmentation, and skin tone before and after application. The results demonstrated improvements in overall skin parameters, highlighting the potential of PVA-based nanowebs as effective, biocompatible, and environmentally sustainable alternatives to conventional sheet masks. This study offers valuable insights into the development of next-generation home-use skincare products that combine functionality, user comfort, and ecological responsibility.

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With the advancement of modern industry and rising living standards, environmental pollution has become an increasingly serious and widespread concern. In response, hydrogels have emerged as promising multifunctional materials to mitigate pollution due to their high porosity, tunable structure, hydrophilicity, and capacity to incorporate diverse functional groups, which enable both effective adsorption of pollutants and real-time detection through electrochemical sensing. Furthermore, their responsiveness to external stimuli, coupled with notable mechanical robustness and intrinsic self-healing behavior, positions them as versatile candidates for diverse environmental applications. This review outlines recent progress and key innovations in hydrogel-based materials for heavy metal adsorption while also addressing their integration into electrochemical detection systems. In addition, it briefly discusses hydrogel-based electrochemical sensors for detecting emerging contaminants, such as pesticides, dyes, and microplastics. Moreover, the emerging role of machine learning in guiding the rational design, intelligent development, and performance optimization of hydrogel-based systems is highlighted. The review concludes by discussing current limitations and outlining future research directions for their sustainable implementation in real-world technologies.

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Hydrogels for monitoring and remediation of heavy metals

High-boiling solvents are essential for inkjet-printed phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes (PHOLED), but their low vapor pressure leaves residual molecules that form dipolar sites, inducing polaron formation and quenching triplet emission. To overcome this, we introduced a vacuum-assisted annealing (VAA) strategy that removes > 80% of ethyl p-toluate and > 75% of 3-ethylbiphenyl from Ir(mppy)₃-doped green PHOLED films. Efficient solvent removal was confirmed by mass spectroscopy, and photoluminescence decay indicated an extended triplet lifetime. Moreover, nanoscale surface analysis and absorption spectroscopy verified that VAA preserves film uniformity, smoothness, and the electronic structure of the Ir(III) complex. As a result, VAA-treated PHOLEDs achieved an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 6.4%, a 75% improvement over spin-coated references. Under fully ambient inkjet-printing, devices also reached 4.4% EQE, representing a 30% gain compared to untreated films. This study demonstrates that residual solvent removal is the key bottleneck in printed PHOLEDs and establishes VAA as a simple, polymer-compatible strategy to enhance device performance under ambient, large-area processing conditions.

Graphical abstract

Vacuum-assisted annealing (VAA) effectively eliminates residual of high-boiling-point ethyl p-toluate and 3-ethylbiphenyl solvent from the phosphorescent EML processed under ambient conditions. This process removes dipolar solvent pockets, thereby preserving the emission characteristics and enhancing film uniformity. This increases the external quantum efficiency of VAA-based devices by 75% (from 3.7 to 6.4%), identifying residual solvent as the primary constraint for enabling an ambient and scalable fabrication process.

This study investigates the synthesis and optimization of hierarchical lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) cathode materials using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, aiming to enhance electrochemical performance while maintaining economic feasibility. We systematically examined the effects of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) concentration, precursor molar ratios, and various carbon sources for in-situ carbon coating. An optimal PVP concentration was found as 25 wt% to promote well-defined hierarchical micro/nano structures. Citric acid served as both a chelating agent and carbon source, significantly influencing particle assembly and performance. A dual-carbon-source approach (citric acid + sucrose) improved morphology and electrochemical characteristics, with an optimal sucrose content of 15 wt%. Techno-economic analysis based on the cost-to-capacity ratio (CCR) revealed that the most cost-effective and high-performing condition was Li:Fe:P = 3:1:2 with a citric acid content 1.2 times the Fe molar ratio (CA1.2), achieving initial capacities of ~ 150 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1C and ~ 100 mAh g⁻¹ at 1C. Additional carbon source such as glucose showed performance improvements but no linear benefits with increasing content, indicating the presence of optimal levels. These findings provide practical guidelines for developing commercially viable LiFePO₄ cathodes by balancing electrochemical efficiency and material cost.

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Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of hierarchical LiFePO₄ cathodes optimized by carbon sources for enhanced electrochemical performance and economic viability.

Despite being one of the most abundant natural polymers, lignin from paper mills and biorefinery processes is primarily used as a low-cost energy source; however, its utilization in value-added products remains limited. To address this issue, a novel strategy was developed for valorizing lignin as a multifunctional compatibilizer for biodegradable poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT, 80/20 wt%) blends, enhancing both the interfacial compatibility and functional performance. A lignin-based multifunctional compatibilizer (LigSG) was synthesized by grafting styrene and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto lignin. LigSG contains reactive functional groups that enable preferential localization at the PLA/PBAT interface, thereby enhancing the interfacial adhesion. By incorporating LigSG at varying loadings (1, 5, and 10 phr), the morphology, mechanical properties, rheological behavior, and functional properties of the blends were successfully modulated. The domain size of PBAT dispersed in the blend containing LigSG was smaller, leading to enhanced tensile strength and an increase in the elongation at break compared to those of the uncompatibilized blend. The complex viscosity and interphase relaxation time increased, as revealed by rheological analysis, indicating stronger interfacial interactions. LigSG significantly enhanced the UV shielding ability of the blends, effectively reducing the transmittance in the UV region and preventing polymer degradation over time. The LigSG-containing blend exhibited enhanced water-barrier properties, demonstrating its dual role as a compatibilizer and functional additive. These findings highlight the potential of valorizing lignin for developing high-performance biodegradable polymer blends, enabling sustainable and high-value applications of lignin in eco-friendly packaging and material engineering.

Graphic Abstract

Lignin-based multifunctional reactive compatibilizer was introduced into biodegradable polymer blends, achieving simultaneousinterfacial compatibilization and functional enhancement. In addition to improved phase compatibility, the lignin-based compatibilizerprovided antioxidant, water-barrier, and UV-shielding properties to the blend system.